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Monsoon Cup Prize Money a Glimpse of WMRT Future? #WMRT

Ever since it was announced that the World Match Racing Tour was under new ownership in September, many have been wondering what the future holds for the championship.

Most have welcomed the change of ownership, with a belief that the Tour will benefit from increased investment. Certainly if the prize pool for the 2009 Monsoon Cup is anything to go by, the World Match Racing Tour may be able to deliver a truly professional global sailing series.

The Monsoon Cup, which starts later this week in Malaysia, is offering total prize money of MYR1.57m (US$ 454,000). The winner pockets MYR 360,000 (US$104,000) while the last team (12th place) receives MYR 50,000 (US$14,400).

Monsoon Cup Race Advisor, Datuk Peter Gilmour said,

‘This makes the regatta the biggest prize pool available throughout all sailing events in 2009. Importantly, the Monsoon Cup marks the final stage of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) where the ISAF World Champion will be crowned.’

Gilmour noted that the increase in prize money is attributed to the increased sponsorship commitments from the key sponsors and the State Government of Terengganu in providing such outstanding facilities and intra-government support that takes the event to a new level.

While there are many pretenders to the overused and largely misleading phrase, ‘the F1 of sailing’, the World Match Racing Tour is probably the only sailing event that comes close. It is truly global, visiting more diverse markets than any other event on an annual basis. It features some of the worlds best professional sailors and confers upon the winner the genuine title of World Champion.

Leaving aside the fact that it is effectively a ‘one-make’ championship, the World Match Racing Tour has the potential to deliver a truly recognisable World Championship outside of the Olympic classes.

The Monsoon Cup is owned and organised by the same team that has now acquired the Tour commercial rights. If other events on the Tour are to be run in the same manner, with the same prize money, then it will attract attention from sailors, sponsors and media alike.

Like many sailing platforms, The Monsoon Cup is backed by Government tourism and development budgets. It is project of the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports and it is proudly hosted by the State of Terengganu and is supported by key sponsors Richard Mille, TM, Cartrade Group (CTG), Astro, Firefly Airline, and Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa.

Like many, we are eager to learn more about the plans for the WMRT 2010 and beyond.

Permanis Revive Isotonic Backs the Monsoon Cup.

The World Match Racing Tour has been a closely fought series this year. Unlike the F1 World Championship, which has been decided with one race to go, the 2009 World Match Racing title could go down to the last race of the last event.

With bonus points on offer at the Monsoon Cup, 5 skippers have a mathamatical chance of taking out the title including Adam Minoprio, Torvar Mirsky, Mathieu Richard, Peter Gilmour and Ben Ainslie.

Founded by the same team that has recently aquired the rights to the World Match Racing Tour, The Monsoon Cup is a fantastic example of using sailing as a platform for entertainment and investment.

The Monsoon Cup has announced via its Facebook page that Permanis Sdn Bhd, one of the largest beverage manufacturers in Malaysia will be an event sponsor with its isotonic drink – Revive Isotonic.

Ms Hemalatha Ragavan, Marketing Manager of Permanis Sdn Bhd said:

“This new generation isotonic drink will efficiently re-hydrate and replenish our body fluids so that it helps to revive and sustain the drive in performing our daily activities with as much vigour and verve,”

Monsoon Cup Race Advisor, Dato’ Peter Gilmour welcomed Permanis’ sponsorship, noting that Revive Isotonic was the first isotonic drink to be associated with the Monsoon Cup and reflected its commitment to the development of the sporting industry.

“This is definitely a boost for us and we are sure Revive Isotonic will do a great job of ensuring everyone is refreshed for the race. I am happy with Permanis’s sponsorship as it goes beyond the usual advertising and we see it as a wonderful partnership to make the Monsoon Cup a great experience for all.”

Cartrade Group Continues Support for Monsoon Cup.

The Monsoon Cup reports on its Facebook page that diversified Malaysian conglomerate Cartrade Group is set to increase it’s support level for the Monsoon Cup this year, after sponsoring more than RM8 million worth of cars previously.

The four-year sponsorship deal signed in 2008 will see the company continue to provide all on the ground transportation solutions and logistical management in Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu during the Monsoon Cup, to be held 1- 6 of December 2009.

The group is already well associated with sponsorship of many prestigious sporting events and will also be sponsors of the upcoming MotoGP at Sepang Circuit.

Dato’ Ilyas Mohamed Executive Chairman of Cartrade Group said the Monsoon Cup is however the most interesting and exciting event to sponsor.

“The Monsoon Cup is unique as it is our first sponsorship of an event on water. Providing logistical solutions to the event during the monsoon season in Terengganu in itself is a complicated process. Last year for example we experienced flooding of up to a metre in some areas. It makes for some interesting challenges.

This year that is expected to increase that to up to 60 vehicles that will be branded as “MonsoonWagen”.

Meanwhile, Monsoon Cup Race Advisor Dato’ Peter Gilmour commended the Cartrade Group for it’s continued support of events such as the Monsoon Cup which he said shows a commitment to the development of the sporting industry amongst others.

“Cartrade Group’s sponsorship goes beyond the traditional methods of advertising, it is engaging and we appreciate the group’s ability to think in broader terms, with a complete understanding of the needs of the event. It allows for a more impactful partnership.”

For the Cartrade Group that includes a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the brand and it’s association with an exclusive lifestyle sport. This also benefits its clientele who are invited to attend the event and enjoy the benefit of sponsorship packages.

Dato’ Ilyas said:

“The event held during Monsoon season in Terengganu allows us an opportunity to provide our customers with a lifestyle experience of international sport. We invite our customers to join us in Terengganu for the event,”

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Peter Gimour is also the Chairman of the World Yacht Racing Forum in 2009. This information could win you a free delegate pass to the event in December in Monaco. Enter our competition to win.

Follow the Monsoon Cup with Virtual Eye

The finale of the World Match Racing Tour, the Monsoon Cup, gets underway in Malaysia on the 3rd of December. Apart from deciding the championship, this event uses some of the latest technology to get the message around the world.

Apart from the Americas Cup, the Monsoon Cup is the only yachting event to utilise Virtual Eye; a real time, 3D sports graphics package for television and the big screen.

During the races, the technology tracks the boats live, by installing custom-built trackers in each yacht.

Virtual Eye helps the ‘unskilled eye’ to see the position of the yachts during races to allow spectators to keep track of the action, aided by computer graphic overlays.

Supporting features such as grid lines showing the yacht’s position, and circles indicating changes in speed, help viewers to understand the subtleties of match racing.

Like a video game, there are an endless range of camera angles, with fast-forward and rewind functions available for post race analysis.

For more information on the Monsoon Cup, visit: http://www.monsooncup.com.my/

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